CRPF trooper, Maoist killed in West Bengal gun battle

KOLKATA - A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper and a Maoist guerrilla were killed in a gunfight in West Bengal’s troubled West Midnapore district early Saturday, a police official said here.

On a tip-off, joint forces along with the Common Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA) personnel started search operations in the Bandarbani forest area of Binpur in West Midnapore district around 3.30 a.m.

“We had information that the members of Sashadhar Mahato squad were taking shelter in the Bandarbani forest area. Joint forces carried out an operation with the help of CoBRA. When they (joint forces) entered the forest around 3.30 a.m., the Maoists attacked our forces. The forces retaliated. In the gunbattle, a CRPF jawan, D. Stephen, died on the spot with bullet injury,” Superintendent of Police of Jhargram Police District Praveen Tripathi told IANS.

The body of 23-year-old Stephen, constable of CRPF’s 184 battalion, was taken to the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Tripathi said that a Maoist also died in the gun battle, which continued till 8.30 a.m.

“We are yet to identify the Maoist,” he said.

Sources in the pro-Maoist People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) said the killed Maoist was Joydev Mahato.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition and landmines was recovered from the area, Tripathi said.

Search operations were on in the area adjacent to Bandarbani area in Cherabani and Serabani forests.

Maoists are active in three western districts of the state — Purulia, West Midnapore and Bankura.